Page 5 of Double

Still, crazy attraction or not, I was in a place where I was ready to settle down. I’d already started looking into exclusive matchmaking services in the city. If I could find a woman who I was physically attracted to, who had a good head on her shoulders, who treasured loyalty, was motivated, ambitious, and had a good heart? I felt like the two of us could rock. I felt like we could make something happen based off mutual respect and a foundation of friendship. Maybe love would come later, but I was willing to settle for friendship initially. I just couldn’t keep building my legacy with nobody to share it with and no kids to leave it to. What was the fucking point?

The fundraiser was business as usual. It was for a nonprofit organization that ran a job training, job placement, and a childcare program for young moms. We made it a habit to network with other foundations and nonprofits. The industry could be insular, with important information about resources or contacts being kept from those who weren’t part of the inner circle. That didn’t happen to Big Hill. Everybody wanted him in their inner circle. He was the man to see when it came to getting through bureaucratic red tape and knowing what political representative to speak to about getting what you needed.

The three of us mixed, mingled, ate a nondescript dinner, and listened to a keynote speaker who enjoyed hearing himself talk more than he enjoyed entertaining his listeners. When the event was over, Big Hill caught my wrist as I stood from the table.

“Grandson, come back to the house with Lynne and me. We need to talk to you about something.”

I nodded as I helped my grandmother from her chair. Lynne was in her late fifties and didn’t really need my help, but I’d been raised to be a gentleman. I gave her a kiss on the smooth, caramel cheek she offered me. Although she wasn’t my biological grandmother, Lynne married my grandfather before I was born. She was the only grandmother I knew. My father’s mother succumbed to cancer right after I was born. Lynne was the only grandmother I had. And as far as I was concerned, God saved the best for our family.

At their home, the three of us sat in the family room. As we made ourselves comfortable, their housekeeper, Lana, brought in drinks. Big Hill only drank brown, so he was given a dark rum. Lynne had a glass of wine, and I was given a glass of my favorite tequila.

After taking a dainty sip, Lynne set her glass down on the end table beside her. “My sister called me from Iredia in an absolute panic about her niece,” she began. “Apparently, her sister-in-law has sold the girl off to some nasty-ass, old pervert in exchange for him saving the family business.”

I took a drink from my glass, wondering what the situation had to do with me. Shit, if somebody needed to die, Big Hill was the man to see. I didn’t have any hittas that didn’t belong to him.

Big Hill picked up the commentary. “This . . . pervert wants to marry this girl because she’s young and pretty. But she also allegedly has a huge inheritance from the passing of both of her parents. Only thing is it was stipulated in her father’s will that the money wouldn’t be released to her until she’s married. So dude gets a pretty, young thing in his bed, but he also gets access to her money.”

“This man is an Iredian politician,” Lynne said. “He’s the Minister of Finance. He’s part of Parliament on the island. He’s powerful. Apparently, he’s threatened to erase my brother-in-law’s entire bloodline if this niece, Tinsley, backs out of the wedding.”

“Tinsley?” I repeated.

Lynne eyed me with a smirk on her face. “I know you’re not making fun of somebody’s name, Jinx Jr.” She giggled.

I jabbed my finger in Big Hill’s direction. “Hey. He’s the one who named his daughter Passion.”

Big Hill chuckled. “Her mother picked out that name. I just went along with it. Passion named you Jayson, after your daddy. I’m sure she had no idea you would get grown and legally change it to your daddy’s street name, especially because she hated being named after an emotion.”

“I never felt like a Jayson. And they knew I wasn’t no damn Jayson. They called me Double Jinx and Double my whole life. The only people who ever called me Jayson were teachers and doctors. I just made it official so we didn’t have to keep pretending like that name fit me.”

We all chuckled.

“Anyway, this girl’s name is Tinsley?”

Lynne nodded. “Tinsley Campbell.” She took a deep breath. “We have to get her off that island. She’s an innocent, young girl whose entire life has been controlled by family members, according to Lianna. She says the girl’s father was a nightmare. He controlled both her and her mother. Since the mother died, the aunt’s been trying her best to run the girl’s life. Now, she’s backed her into a corner by forcing her to marry this man.”

“How young is this girl?”

Big Hill laughed. “Lynne keeps saying young girl, like Tinsley’s a kid. She’s not. She’s probably close to thirty. Lynne keeps calling her young because Tinsley’s so innocent. She kept herself to herself, . . . if you know what I mean.”

I had no idea what the hell he was talking about.

“She’s a virgin, Double.” Lynne must’ve realized that it needed to be spelled out for me.

Oh shit. “No wonder she’s a hot commodity to an old pervert.”

“Right. Lianna really wants me to help Tinsley. She loves that girl. She feels like Tinsley’s only agreeing to go through with the wedding because she’s trying to save their lives. But this pervert motherfucka doesn’t know me. The nerve of him to threaten my sister’s life. He picked the right one today. I will⁠—”

Big Hill cut her off. “We know, baby. We know. I’ve gotta get Tinsley off that island, along with Lianna, her husband, their two boys, and their families.”

“And we have to get Tinsley’s money released,” Lynne added hurriedly. “Because the truth of the matter is that once she leaves Iredia, she’ll never be able to go back. I mean, not unless this politician and her aunt are dead.”

Big Hill made eye contact with me. “This is where you come in, Double.”

“Where do I come in? I’m lost, old man.”

He chuckled like he always did whenever I called him an old man. “Are you serious when you keep saying that you’re open to marrying for something other than love?”

“You want me to marry a stranger? Who are you, old girl’s aunt? You’re doing the same thing to me that they’re doing to her.”